CNN Hero of the Year Nelly Cheboi returned to Kenya with plans to lift more students out of poverty

Just weeks after being named the 2022 CNN Hero of the Year, Nelly Cheboi traveled more than 7,000 miles to bring her award home. Far from the lights, cameras, and celebrities who surrounded her at the gala event in New York City, Cheboi was greeted by her own heroes: the students she serves in rural Mogotio, Kenya.

Japan joins the US and Europe in chipmaking curbs on China

Japan will restrict the overseas sale of chip manufacturing equipment, joining the United States and the Netherlands in curbing the export of key technology to China.

Amsterdam asks 'wild' young male British tourists to 'stay away'

Amsterdam is asking young British men to "stay away" if they plan to visit the city to cut loose and "go wild".

UK reaches its biggest trade deal since Brexit, joining trans-Pacific partnership

Britain has reached an agreement to join a major trans-Pacific partnership, calling it its biggest trade deal since Brexit.

Asia's best restaurant for 2023 revealed

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Why 2023 is the year to visit Mongolia

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Amateur gold digger finds huge nugget worth $160,000 in Australia

An amateur gold digger has found an enormous gold nugget worth 240,000 AUD ($160,000) in Australia.

'Hotel Rwanda' hero Paul Rusesabagina arrives back in US

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Bolsonaro claims he won't lead opposition as he returns to Brazil for first time since riots

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday claimed he would no longer lead the country's opposition as he boarded a flight home for the first time since his election defeat that culminated in thousands of his supporters rioting in protest at the result.

Beijing warns of 'severe impact' on US-China relations as Taiwan's leader lands in New York

Taiwan's relationship with the United States has "never been closer," its President Tsai Ing-wen said after arriving in New York City Wednesday, as Beijing warned her visit could lead to "serious confrontation" between China and the US.

Surreal landscapes, happy cities: Where to go in China in 2023

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Biden and Netanyahu trade barbs over plan to weaken Israeli courts

Israel's embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated a rare public dispute with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, rejecting "pressure" from the White House after Biden criticized his controversial efforts to weaken the Israeli judiciary.

Taliban arrests prominent girls' education activist as repressive clampdown continues

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Myanmar junta dissolves Suu Kyi's party as election deadline passes

Myanmar's military government has dissolved the ousted ruling party of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi and 39 other parties, state media announced on Tuesday, over their failure to register for an election set to prolong the army's grip on power.

As North Korea ramps up missile tests, US and South Korean troops practice assaulting a beach

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Jet lag hits differently depending on your travel direction. Here are 6 tips to get over it

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How a European country plans rail revolution

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Analysis: Why Israel's instability matters to the US

• Netanyahu says he will delay his judicial overhaul. But will that be enough for protesters? • Live Updates: Netanyahu not backing down over 'need for reform' • In Pictures: Protests erupt in Israel over judicial reform • Video: 'Never seen anything like this': CNN reporter on protests

It's one of the world's best Chinese restaurants. But it's not in China

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Portrait of the lives of Faroe Islands' unmarried men

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Nearly 200 Rohingya people land by boat in Indonesia's Aceh

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The celebrity jeweler bringing iconic, red-carpet pieces to sale

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Elian Gonzalez's new chapter as a Cuban lawmaker

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Lebanon reverses decision on Daylight Saving, amid confusion on two different timezones

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'World's longest' bus journey will take 56 days to cross Europe

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Myanmar junta throws huge military parade days after new US sanctions

Myanmar's ruling military paraded an arsenal of weapons in the capital Naypyidaw on Monday, in a grand display of force days after the United States imposed fresh sanctions against the junta for inflicting "pain and suffering on the people of Burma."

Nearly 8 million driver license numbers and passport numbers stolen in Australia

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Japan wants 85% of male workers to take paternity leave. But fathers are too afraid to take it

A child riding on his father's shoulders smiles as they stroll through a park lined with yellow autumn-touched leaves -- that is the typical image of a Japanese "ikumen".

North Korea launches at least two unidentified ballistic missile into waters off eastern Korean peninsula

North Korea launched at least one unidentified ballistic missile into the waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula on Monday morning local time, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

England hands Ukraine defeat on emotional night at Wembley Stadium

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Argentina FA training facility renamed after Lionel Messi

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Sicilian island sees record-high migrant arrivals by boat

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Suspect in Haitian president's assassination accepts plea deal in Florida

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Amazon Prime Video’s Jubilee: A celebration of the golden era of Hindustani cinema

Amazon Prime Video’s Jubilee: A celebration of the golden era of Hindustani cinema

When a director like Vikramaditya Motwane charts new territory in the shape of a 10-episode web series, with lip-sync songs, something he has never done before, there is high curiosity value. It’s called Jubilee and the trailer was launched at Four Seasons Hotel, Mahalakshmi, Mumbai, on Friday afternoon. Starting just 30 minutes after the scheduled time, the proceedings ended within an hour, which is commendable by comparison with most such events.

Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and created by Soumik Sen and Vikramaditya Motwane, Jubilee has been produced by Andolan Films (of Vikramaditya), in association with Reliance Entertainment and Phantom Studios. Motwane has directed only six films, though he has produced many more.

The series has an ensemble cast, led by Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aditi Rao Hydari, Aparshakti Khurana, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sidhant Gupta, Nandish Sandhu, and Ram Kapoor, and features soundtrack composed by Amit Trivedi. There are as many as 10 songs in the series, and this was a pre-condition set by Aparna Purohit, Head of India Originals, at Amazon Prime Video, when Vikramaditya pitched the project to Amazon. Growing up in Delhi, Aparna was a big movie buff, and songs were inherent in the golden era of the Hindustani film industry, the 50s, 60s and 70s. In fact Jubilee takes us to the Bombay of 1947.

Incorporating so many songs, and recreating the ambience, meant very high budgets, and Amazon was ready to back the project on this front too. In fact, during the interaction, there was some fun and mirth about budget, but it was all in good humour. One of these songs was performed on the occasion, which had a distinct O. P. Nayyar feel to it. Jubilee’s songs have been penned by Kausar Munir, who has two generations of literature behind her and the music director is Amit Trivedi.

“When Vikram first came to me with the story, I instantly connected with the character of Srikant Roy. He is a person who lives and breathes cinema and has dedicated his life to it. As someone who has worked in the industry for four decades, I could immediately relate to that! Jubilee represents a glorious time of Indian Cinema, and as an actor I, feel responsible for doing right by it. I don’t think there could’ve been a better series for me to make my OTT debut with!”, said Prosenjit Chatterjee       

Aditi Rao Hydari opened up about the series, saying, "Sumitra Kumari has been an incredibly challenging and layered character to play. She is a star, she is powerful and has the world at her feet except for that one thing that she really wants, it’s what makes her vulnerable, and eventually becomes her north star. Vikramaditya Motwane is such an amazing and sensitive director and he is completely an actor’s director. Atul Sabharwal and him have created a story that is beautiful and compelling and it is a joy and honour to be able to share this with viewers all over the world with Prime Video’s global reach.”

Aparshakti Khurana shared, “Jubilee for me as an actor was a complete no-brainer. When I heard the story, and especially Binod’s journey, I knew I had to do this. It is one of the most challenging characters I have played to date, but also the most rewarding. Doing theatre in Delhi, I was always given dark, menacing roles. Here, there was a volte face, with comedy after comedy. Vikramaditya Motwane is a maverick, he has been able to bring out the best in not just me, but the entire cast and crew. This is a series that is really close to my heart and now with Prime Video we’re going to be able to take it to audiences across the world! In fact, I feel have just been born on screen, and this film, after a dozen comedies, will emerge as my most significant role.”

“For me, working with a director like Vikramaditya Motwane and playing a character like Nilofer has been a dream come true. Her journey in the series is so powerful and inspiring, that I knew I had to play this character. Every scene of the series is a work of art; it has been a surreal experience. Stories like Jubilee aren’t made often, it is my absolute privilege to be a part of this. I’m thrilled to know that Jubilee will premiere on Prime Video globally and audiences worldwide will be able to witness this beautiful show,” said Wamiqa Gabbi.

Sidhant Gupta shared, “Jubilee for me is one big emotion. Sure, there’s pain and fear, but there’s Love and Wonder. Jay Khanna believes in the magic this life has to offer and that is what he brings to the celluloid. He doesn’t know how to give up, no matter what life throws at him, that was the only common thread between him and me, in real life. Finding this character within has been fascinating. I hope Jay Khanna makes the viewers fall in love with their dreams all over again.

Ram Kapoor delighted the audience by saying that, “Within every Punjabi, there is a streak called Punjaba. They try to keep it tightly hidden, but at the opportune moment, it surfaces. That is the kind of role I am playing in Jubilee. For the first time, I am not acting at all, just being myself, all thanks to Vikramaditya Motwane.”

A drama described as Glamour, Glitz, Aspirations and Betrayals, in Jubilee, Vikramaditya Motwane has represented an entire era, and not one or two films. “Of course, the effort has been to re-create an entire era, over 10 hours, and not a particular film. There are some references to personalities that you might identify with, others are subtler, but they are all there. Part One (Episodes One-Five) of Jubilee will premiere on April 7, with Part Two (Episodes Six-10) releasing the following week on April 14 

The supporting cast includes Shweta Basu Prasad, Arun Govil, Sukhmanee Lamba, Aarya Bhatta, Narottam Bain, Alok Arora and Suhani Popli. Jubilee is a layered drama that chronicles the lives of a studio boss, his movie-star wife, a trusted aide, a rising star, a nautch girl and a refugee and the gambles they’re willing to take in pursuit of their dreams, passion, ambition and love.

Amazon Prime offers unlimited streaming of the latest and exclusive movies, TV shows, stand-up comedy, Amazon Originals, ad-free music listening through Amazon Prime Music, free fast delivery on India’s largest selection of products, early access to top deals, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, and mobile gaming content with Prime Gaming, all available for an annual membership of Rs. 1499.  Consumers can also buy Prime Video Mobile Edition at INR 599 per year—the single-user, mobile-only annual plan provides access to Prime Video’s catalogue of entertainment

Trailer: https://youtu.be/7-m9A6tC7A0 (cut and paste)

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Parthenon fragments returned by the Vatican go on display in Greece

The Vatican has returned three fragments of the Parthenon sculptures kept by the Vatican for centuries to Greece.

The far out, far-right plot that Germany is still trying to unravel

An extremist and until recently almost unheard-of network in Germany is back in the spotlight after police carried out nationwide raids against it.

A threat to democracy or much-needed reform? Israel's judicial overhaul explained

For months hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been taking to the streets across the country to regularly protest far-reaching changes to the Israel's legal system some say threaten the country's democratic foundations.

Why the Syrian drone strikes and US retaliation may yet be a big deal

The US has conducted an airstrike in Syria against what it said were Iranian-affiliated facilities after a suspected Iranian drone struck a facility housing US personnel in the country, killing an American contractor and wounding five US service members.

EU was set to ban internal combustion engine cars. Then Germany suddenly changed its mind

The hotel shaped like two gigantic swords

In Qatar, a country where the subway has a business class compartment and Friday brunch is a competitive sport, opulence is a mere baseline.

Nani’s Dasara creates Dhoom Dhaam across the earth, the moon and the sun

Nani’s Dasara creates Dhoom Dhaam across the earth, the moon and the sun

To north Indians, Nani means maternal grandmother. Wonder what it means in Nani’s native Telugu. His full name, though, is Ghanta Naveen Babu, and he is 39. After a dubbed success called Super Khiladi 4, in this, his 29^th film, Dasara, he has a very earthy look, unshaven and with long, unruly hair. “You might be pardoned for thinking that this is the same look sported by Allu Arjun in Pushpa, though the two films are poles apart. But I tell you what. If you liked Pushpa, come and see Dasara. You will not be disappointed.”

Nani, a former RJ and assistant director, was speaking at the PVR Juhu Multiplex, where the audience was shown the teaser, the trailer and the song, ‘Dhoom Dhaam’. Also present on the occasion were heroine of the film, Keerthi Suresh, co-star Dheekshith Shetty (who makes his feature film debut), producer Srikanth Chundi Garu and surprise guest, Rana Dagubatti. Rana had come to promote his friend’s film. Nani produced his first film, D for Dopidi in 2013. His second production was Awe, in 2018.Years ago, Ajay Devgn had turned up to promote Nani’s earlier film. Nani has not forgotten that gesture. Although the Ajay Devgn starrer Bholaa is releasing on the same day as Dasara, 30 March, Nani will first go to see Bholaa and then his own film.

Sharing the experience of making Dasara, Nani confessed that it was no picnic. In fact, shooting the scenes in dust and mud was sheer torture. “But when we saw the results on the monitor, at the end of the day, it was worth every bit.” Asked by a media-person whether the story is a casualty amidst all the gory violence in Telugu films, Nani said, “This is the most emotional film of my career. Also, my character in the film is the most vulnerable one I have ever portrayed.” In an answer to another question, he responded, “Earlier, Telugu films were a notch below Hindi films. Now they have caught up and it is a level playing field.”

Keerthi (sometimes spelt Keerthy), looking stunningly sexy, confided that Nani was always open to discussion about how to do particular scenes, but he was a prankster as well, always pulling somebody’s leg. “The best part was that the unit let me be what I am at heart – a brat.” She also revealed that it took her some effort to get the Telangana dialect right. Dheekshith Shetty was reluctant to say anything, because he had been warned to keep mum. Earlier, he has spilled some beans in an interview, and therefore the gag. All he said was, “I play Nani’s friend and my name is Suri.” Explaining the name, Nani averred, “My name in the film, Dharini, stands for earth in the film, Keerthi's name is Vennela, which is the moon and Dheekshith is the sun.”

In the videos we saw, there was a liberal flow of alcohol. I was told that at the entrance, downstairs, mock-tails were served, in liquor-like bottles, but by that time I was already on my seat in the auditorium. Compère Nitin did a competent job, with the usual trope built in, while Rana Dagubatti proved that he is fluent in English, and getting fluent in Hindi too. He has spent most of the last 12-13 years here, in Mumbai, and that should help him with the lingo. Ramanaidu Daggubati was born in Madras (present-day Chennai), Tamil Nadu to film producer D. Suresh Babu. He is named after his paternal grandfather, D. Ramanaidu, a prominent Telugu and Hindi film producer. A member of the Daggubati–Akkineni family, his paternal uncle Venkatesh, and his cousin Naga Chaitanya, are also actors.

Dasara, apparently, is a reference to the festival that precedes Deepavali. In north India, it is spelt Dussehra or Dashahra. This usually falls in October. No wonder the advertising line reads, ‘This year, Dasara will be in March.’

The song is what you would expect in a movie of its genre. It begins with a tepid qavvaalee, but when the performers have had their share of the devil’s brew, the Dhoom Dhaam begins in earnest.

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Deutsche Bank, UBS stocks sink as European banking crisis fear returns

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The story behind this striking new look from F1 driver Lewis Hamilton

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Locks of Beethoven's hair reveal secret family history and health issues

Before composer Ludwig van Beethoven died on March 27, 1827, it was his wish that his ailments be studied and shared so "as far as possible at least the world will be reconciled to me after my death."

Trudeau lays out China approach ahead of Biden meeting

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Remember when Christian Bale wore makeup on the red carpet?

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India's Rahul Gandhi found guilty of defamation, given two-year sentence

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Taiwan recalls ambassador from Honduras, prepares to lose another diplomatic ally to China

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Beijing's population has declined for the first time in 19 years

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Haiti soccer sexual abuse scandal: Impending defamation lawsuit could cost journalist $64,700 if he loses. He says he'll 'never give up'

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Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

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The war in Yemen could get even more fierce as Saudi Arabia and Iran reconcile

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Global markets tick higher as investors await key Fed decision

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Wall Street is thirsty for its next big investment opportunity: The West's vanishing water

Situated in the Sonoran Desert near the Arizona-California border is the tiny rural town of Cibola -- home to roughly 300 people, depending on the season.

Boris Johnson to be quizzed by lawmakers over claims he misled parliament

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Thailand to hold general election on May 14, poll body says

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Saudi Arabia releases dual US-Saudi citizen from prison after he posted critical tweets about the kingdom

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Israeli minister denies the existence of a Palestinian identity, inviting US rebuke

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Taiwan's President to transit US on Central America trip, but no word on meeting with Speaker McCarthy

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London's Metropolitan Police lets predators flourish, review concludes

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World's longest canal reopens after dramatic makeover

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France's government survives no-confidence votes

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India cuts internet to 27 million as Punjab police hunt Sikh separatist

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Former Australian soldier arrested for alleged war crime in Afghanistan

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Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to make historic visit to mainland China

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The world's greatest places of 2023, according to TIME

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Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Cinema Speculation’: Autobiography? Encyclopaedia? Critiques?...Keep Speculating!

Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Cinema Speculation’: Autobiography? Encyclopaedia? Critiques?...Keep Speculating!

Confined by time (1968-1981) and restricted to select genres, like revenge, gory violence, exploitation and blaxploitation, Quentin Tarantino’s 392-page hard-cover Hachette publication is a voyage of discovery that is not for the feeble-hearted or the purist. In baseball and cricketing terminology, he hits the ball all over the park. Though he was born in 1963, the (restricted entry) films of the 60s and early 70s that feature in his ‘anthology’ were seen either much later or were seen in their first run thanks to ushers who looked the other way when he tagged along with his mother, who was a movie buff.

As a director, he has made nine films, the first being Reservoir Dogs (“The title meant nothing. It just sounded nice)”, Pulp Fiction and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He has said time and again that he will probably make one last film, his tenth, and then retire from film-making, concentrating on writing books, once he turns 60. This is his 60^th year, and though the much-awaited tenth film did not arrive, a book did, in 2022. Herein, you get to know his opinions on a 100, maybe more, Hollywood movies, their directors, their screenplay writers, their actors (including bit players) in a back-and-forth, flashback-flashforward roller-coaster ride that you are not likely to have experienced before.

Besides his mother, her boy-friend and a man called Floyd Ray Wilson, a black man who was dating his mother’s flat-mate and later came and lived with the family for a while, spurred the urge to discover more at the movies. Quentin later ran a VHS rental service, and that gave him an opportunity to see his chosen films time and again. He short-lists the following films for a before, during and after discussion: Bullitt (1968), Dirty Harry (1971), Deliverance (1972), The Getaway (1972), The Outfit (1973), Sisters (1973). At the end of the Sisters chapter, Tarantino writes about Barry Brown, the lead actor of Daisy Miller, who committed suicide at the age of 27: “Who was Barry Brown? What did it all mean? Am I the only one who remembers Barry Brown? Am I enough?” 

 

Soon afterwards, he takes us on a memorable ride with Taxi Driver (1976). Page 211 to 233 will tell you things about the unit of Taxi Driver that you could not have possibly known. Oh, I should have mentioned earlier that Tarantino takes time and space out to dissect reviews and reviewers, and, as expected, does not go with the favourites, often at complete variance with them. Yes, Pauline Kael features, so do Charles Champlin, Kevin Thomas, and more. He also devotes a few pages to Bela Lugosi, the horror icon, and his untimely death.

There is a lot of speculation in the book. What if? What is X had played the lead instead of Y? What if A had directed the film instead of B? It’s a nice game, and you get sucked into it real fast. The only problem is that in this part of the world (India), most of the films mentioned either did not get a release or were released in a heavily censored version. This was particularly true of the period 60s-80s. Another fact was that Hollywood films would be released in India up to three years after their American release. And a lot of his references are to the ‘heavily censored’ scenes, so Indians will find it impossible to relate to them, unless they watch them now, at home, without the spectre of censorship. Secondly, there are so many American references that you may never get the context of most of them. You will get to know what I mean when you reach the chapter ‘What if Brian De Palma Directed Taxi Driver Instead of Martin Scorcese?’

Next in his list of selected favourites are Rolling Thunder (1977), Paradise Alley (1978), Escape from Alcatraz, Hardcore (1979), The Funhouse (1981) ending with a Floyd Footnote, a tribute to the man who inspired Django Unchained, but who could never get a screenplay sold.

It is easy reading, impressively written, with language hovering between the literary and the ‘f’ word (galore). The print-face and paper is easy on the eye. Some parts do seem repetitive, but they are there to give emphasis. Many of the films he talks about were seen as a double feature, a system that might be alien to Indians. You could see two films, successively, for the price of one or choose which one. Of course this was confined to select cinemas and slightly older movies.

You cannot but marvel at the amount of information Quentin Tarantino packs into the book. For a non-American who is interested in Hollywood, this is an encyclopaedia. It is, at the same time, in small measure, his autobiography. After reading Cinema Speculation, you realise why his screenplays and dialogue are so effective. Tarantino has very good command, over the English (American) language and the medium of cinema. Not to mention an elephantine memory. Of course, seeing each film a number of times helps sharpen that gigabyte edge.

If there is one thing you miss in the book, it is more pictures. Guess the copyright laws in the USA must have come in the way of this added attraction.

Don’t speculate! Get a copy.

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Kim Jong Un talks up North Korea's nuclear capability as daughter watches missile test

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King Charles marks first Mother's Day since Queen's death

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Trump and Le Pen backed these Dutch farmers -- now they've sprung an election shock

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US B-1B strategic bombers in drills with South Korea on same day as North Korean missile launch

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Hundreds protest clampdown on same-sex parents in Milan

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Triangle of Sadness: An American Marxist and a Russian Capitalist on a $250 m yacht

Triangle of Sadness: An American Marxist and a Russian Capitalist on a $250 m yacht

As movies go, there are several advantages of being different. Genre films have been beaten to death and critics, not to mention discerning audiences, are dying to watch something different. There are those who are different by virtue of original ideas, while others are different for the sake of being different. Let’s begin with the title: in the first few minutes of the film, you are told that it is something that is formed with your two eyebrows as the base, going up to the top of your nose, and can be concealed within minutes with botox, so you don’t die wondering. Triangle of Sadness is not about the triangle of sadness, though it is about a lot of other things.

It is an art to have a large cast, get all of them due exposure, change tracks in the narrative ever so often, and yet manage to get a grip on the viewers. You would need to make a long film, and a long film it is: 147 minutes, no less. Since a large part of the film takes place on a luxury yacht, comparison’s will be drawn with Titanic. All the more because class conflict is at the core of almost all the conversations aboard the yacht, and even before we get on to the yacht. But the class divisions in Triangle of Sadness are more in-your-face, bringing in the American government as super-villain. It might also remind you about the Roman Emperor Nero. A queer kettle of fish (there is so much fish in the movie), it might need two viewings to fully decode. However, it was good enough to bag the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year.

The film begins with Carl auditioning for a model casting, with other male models. A TV anchor asks them whether they are auditioning for a grumpy brand or a smiley brand. He has not done much work. On the other hand, his girl-friend Yaya is much more established as a model, and she even opens the fashion show of a new brand, while her boyfriend Carl watches the show from a back-row seat. Afterwards, the couple goes out to dine at a fancy restaurant and has a rather ugly disagreement about who should pay the bill. To Carl, in a man-woman relationship, everything about gender roles should be equal, and he waits for Yaya to pick up the bill, especially since she had promised to do so the previous night. Yaya, however, seems to like the fact that her man would be ready to keep her needs covered, and she is more of a believer in the transactional nature of a relationship. Disgruntled by the dinner and the following taxi ride back to the hotel, the couple initially spends some time away from each other until Yaya finally returns to Carl’s room. The lovers seem to make up, and Carl makes a half-serious promise that he will make Yaya fall in real love with him some-day soon, beyond the transactional phase that they are in at present.

A few days later, Carl and Yaya take an all-expenses-paid luxury cruise trip on a $250 m yacht as part of her modelling/social media influencer job, and the couple makes acquaintances with the rest of the super-rich guests. They include Russians, British and Germans. The yacht’s captain is an eccentric man who refuses to come out of his cabin for days, insisting that he is not sick. But he has to come out to host the Captain’s dinner, which, he insists, must be held on Thursday, because a storm is predicted that day.  As the glaring class divide and privileges that come along with it get more apparent, the luxury yacht sails through matters of social hierarchy and empty ideology. The Captain and a Russian guest indulge in a quote for quote game, on socialism, Marxism, capitalism, etc. To the guests’ misfortune, rough weather and a pirate attack follow in quick succession, leading to the yacht crashing in the middle of the sea. First, all of them throw-up by the gallon, and then the pirates target the yacht with a grenade made in the British billionaire guest’s factory. Carl and Yaya are among the lucky few to survive the blast as they wash up on a nearby island. Soon afterwards, the social class structure of the stranded group is toppled over completely. Abigail, a toilet cleaner, takes over as Captain, because she hunts the fish and cooks for every-body.

Written and directed by Ruben Östlund (English feature debut), Triangle of Sadness defies being classified into any genre. We can call it satire or black comedy, but these will be approximations. It also works in the multi-track genre, moving from one plot direction to another, within the same milieu. Savour this: A TV crew is interviewing male modelling hopefuls with the anchor passing judgements on aspects of modelling and male modelling every minute. Move on to the dinner at the restaurant and the follow-up at the hotel. Shift focus on to the yacht. Then introduce the staff and the guests, with each having a story to tell. Bring in a woman who, after an accident, can only speak three words. All this requires some writing. The only part I found really overdone was the community vomitting and overflowing toilets.

Östlund has done a very good piece of casting, so that when his actors are discussing issues or arguing or even making love, they look natural. Just when you start wondering whether Woody Harrelson was worth casting in this role, he comes into his own. It is a lavishly mounted film, with an endless list of producers, from these countries: Sweden, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Mexico, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, United States and Turkey. He gives you no hint that the main cast is going to land-up on an island and that the film will have and open end. The lift scene easily comes to mind, as a no-decision zone. The lift doors open and close a dozen times. Carl and Yaya are making them open every time they close, but they are arguing and unable to resolve their differences. In the end, he is going to bring the lift into play again, but in a new mode. Very cleverly, he shifts Carl and Yaya aside, almost away from the camera, as the other players take centre-stage on the yacht.

Obviously British actor Harris Dickinson (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil-2019, The King's Man-2021), as Carl is intense, sharp and uninhibited. Spare a tear for Charlbi Dean (Yaya), who died last August. The South African actress, who had acted in just eight films, had a wow figure and a bright future. Her scenes with Harris were palpable. Dolly Earnshaw de Leon as Abigail, with a giveaway Filipina accent, carries a host of emotions with ease. Vicki Berlin as Paula is perfect as the head of the service team. Woody Harrelson as the Captain gets to mouth probably the boldest indictment of the American government’s role in assassinations, creating unviable states, election rigging and coups. He impresses as the only man on board who remains unmoved in the midst of a storm and sewage overflow.

Cinematography by Fredrik Wenzel is up to the task, and as the yacht sways, it is his camera that does the trick. Carl and Yaya’s two-shots are very well composed. Editing his own work, Ruben Östlund gets a wee bit carried away, though Mikel Cee Karlsson was around to steady the yacht.

Music by Mikkel Maltha and Leslie Ming has a life of its own. I tried to match the notes with the scenes, but got nowhere. But when I heard it on its own, it was very impressive.

Rating: ***

Trailer: https://youtu.be/VDvfFIZQIuQ

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